Israel

Israel Watch: Israeli Prime Minister Olmert Acknowledges Israel Has Nuclear Weapons

israeldecember12aweb

Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Olmert (L) is welcomed by German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. Olmert was holding talks with Merkel after he sparked an uproar by appearing to admit that Israel has nuclear weapons.

AP: Israel Nuke Comment Sparks Controversy

A slip of the tongue by Prime Minister Ehud Olmert about Israel’s nuclear policy ballooned into a domestic crisis Tuesday for the Israeli leader, who came under criticism from across the political spectrum.

In an interview with a German television station broadcast Monday, Olmert appeared to list Israel among the world’s nuclear powers, violating the country’s long-standing policy of not officially acknowledging that it has atomic weapons.

Asked by the interviewer about Iran’s calls for the destruction of Israel, Olmert replied that Israel has never threatened to annihilate anyone.

“Iran openly, explicitly and publicly threatens to wipe Israel off the map,” Olmert said. “Can you say that this is the same level, when you are aspiring to have nuclear weapons, as America, France, Israel, Russia?”

Is this a WARNING SHOT across Iran’s bow?

You betcha.

Israel and the United States will NOT tolerate nor acquiesce into allowing Iran to possess a nuclear weapon. If this means using Israeli nukes, then so be it.

Israel, which foreign experts say has the sixth-largest nuclear arsenal in the world, has stuck to a policy of ambiguity on nuclear weapons for decades, refusing to confirm or deny whether it has them.

The comments came days after incoming Defense Secretary Robert Gates, in testimony to a Senate committee, identified Israel as a nuclear power.

With Olmert’s quote featured on the front pages of all of Israel’s major papers Tuesday and with political rivals calling for his resignation, aides to Olmert – who was in Berlin Tuesday on a state visit – hurriedly said the remark had been misinterpreted.

Olmert has been under pressure in Israel because of the perceived Israeli loss to Hezbollah in this summer’s 33-day Lebanon war. Is he trying to save his political skin?

Probably

This complicates American aid to Israel but this obfuscation has been continuing for decades.
Should Olmert resign because of this remark?

No, but stay tuned sparks will fly……

Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad (C) addresses members of the Islamic volunteer Basij militia just outside Tehran in November 2006. Ahmadinejad has told Palestinian prime minister Ismail Haniya that Israel is sliding toward disappearance.
Previous:

Iran Nuclear Watch: Ahmadinejad – Israel “On the Verge of Disappearing”


Technorati Tags: ,